Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
meaning ecological infrastructure) in the Netherlands,
now also further elaborated for western Europe.
Contrary to the previous plans, this project is not
focused on restoring sites to increase ecological
values on the spot, but instead to enhance flows
between sites to counteract fragmentation. Never-
theless large areas and large amounts of money are
included in this project as well. At present the
Dutch nature reserves cover
c
.150,000 ha (4% of the
national territory) which are all semi-natural eco-
systems that must be managed regularly. Additionally
the country has about 300,000 ha of woodland with
nature protection as a secondary goal. The imp-
lementation of EHS will last from 1992 until 2018 and
consists of a mix of conservation and restoration meas-
ures. Existing areas with high nature-conservation
interest but without legal protection yet are being
bought by the State and by private nature-conserva-
tion organizations and will be designated as strict
nature reserves. An additional 50,000 ha will be
taken out of agricultural use, restored ecologically and
function as corridors. A final 100,000 ha will act as
a buffer zone that can be used for agriculture under
certain restrictions. The costs of the plan are estimated
at a3.3 billion; for a300 million financial cover is still
lacking (Price Index 2000; see www.minlnv.nl/
international). The progress of the plan was evaluated
in 2000. Both the acquisition of areas with high
nature-conservation interest and buffer zones were well
on schedule but restoration had only reached 50%
of what was planned to be finished by that time.
The main cause was difficulties with the acquisition
of grounds (see RIVM natuurbalans at www.rivm.nl/
milieu).
